Cancer diagnosis can be an immensely grueling process for patients. Associate that with the many negative side-effects of several types of treatment and you are left with a very daunting experience for those living with the disease. Cancer treatment itself is toxic and unfortunately millions of patients will suffer from the physical and psychological consequences of therapies. Such therapies have advanced significantly over the last couple of decades, and they continue to progress and we can hope to one day see a significant change in the efficacy and negation of the negative side effects that are still associated with treatments. Unfortunately, throughout diagnosis patients will still have experienced one or more of the following side effects from cancer treatment. Some of which include:

• Physical limitations due to reconstructive surgeries and other operations

• Decrease in testosterone levels during ADT in prostate patients

• Cardiotoxicity

• Treatment related heart failure in women with breast cancer

• Decrease in bone mineral density

• Lymphedema

• Decrease in immune function

• Anemia

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Cancer related fatigue

• Depression

However, research over the past few decades has supported the efficacy and safety of several types of exercise regiments during treatment therapies and into survivorship. The benefits of exercise in cancer patients match the negative side effects of cancer treatment. Some of which include:

• Improvements in psychological well being

• Reduction in cancer related fatigue

• Improved pain management

• Cognitive improvement

• Lean mass gain, fat mass loss

• Increased bose strength

• Improved lymphatic flow due to muscle contractions

• Reduction in cardio-toxicity

• Improved immune function

What's next?

Now that we know it is effective in combating the severe side effects of treatment, will begin to look into what that looks like in real terms; What the recommendations are for pre-treatment, durning treatment, and post treatment. Over the next few weeks I will be touching upon a multiple of these factors and the current basis for where these findings have come from and what that means for you in your journey.